optimism

A wayfarer carried a heavy sack about which he complained unceasingly. From none could he get help or comfort. And as he slowly journeyed, groaning under his burden, the Angel of Optimism came to him and spoke kindly, saying: "Brother, what does thou carry?" The man answered surlily, "My worries." The angel smiled pityingly upon him and said, "Let us look into thy burden and examine thy worries." And so they looked in. But lo! the sack was empty. "Why surely," cried the man, "there were two great worries, too heavy for man to bear. But-ah, yes, I had forgot-one was a worry of yesterday, and so it is gone." "And the other?" "That-why, that was a worry of tomorrow, and it-it has not yet come." Then the angel smiled with infinite pity, saying: "Hearken! He who bows himself down under the worries of yesterday and tomorrow wears himself out for naught. But he who carries only the worries of today has no need of a sack for his sorrows. If thou will cast this black thing aside, and give all thy strength and cheer and courage to the things of today, real misfortune never can burden thee." Wondering, the man did as the angel commanded. And as he took up his journey and went lightly, swiftly on, his heart and his hands were free to relieve many a brother wayfarer of his burden and to pluck sweet fruits and flowers along the wayside. And when he came at last to the setting of the sun it was with smiles and a song.

Words That Encourage Light and The Spirit of The Lord: Believing, Calmness, Charity, Cheerful, Contrite, Contrition, Faith, Forgiving, Generous, Gentleness, Giving, Happy, Humility, Joy, Kindness, Longsuffering, Loving, Meekness, Nurturing, Oneness, Openness, Optimistic, Patience, Peaceful, Positive, Prayer, Sacrifice, Selfless, Sharing, Thankful, Trusting, Worship,

The Optimistic Frog Two frogs fell in a deep bowl, One was an optimistic soul, But the other took the gloomy view. "We shall drown," he cried without more adieu. So with a last despairing cry He flung up his legs and said good-bye. Quoth the other frog with a merry grin, "I can't get out, but I won't give in; I'll just swim around till my strength is spent, Then will I die the more content." Bravely he swam till it would seem His struggles began to churn the cream. On top of the butter at last he stopped, And out of the bowl he gaily hopped. What of the moral? 'Tis easily found: If you can't hop out, keep swimming around.

They found a little courage That simmered in the sun. They blended it with patience And just a spice of fun. They poured in hope and laughter And then with a sudden twist They stirred it all together And made an Optimist.

I am glad I am an optimist. The pessimist is half-licked before he starts. The optimist has won half the battle, the most important half that applies to himself, when he begins his approach to a subject with the proper mental attitude. The optimist may not understand, or if he understands he may not agree with, prevailing ideas; but he believes, yes, knows, that in the long run and in due course there will prevail whatever is right and best.

An optimist is the human personification of spring.

Some time ago a member of my family sent to me a critical article written by Mr. Edmund Fuller in a publication called Saturday Review. The criticism of the writer is directed against the effort made to satisfy what the author designates as "general religious hunger," with books, articles, and public appearances of nationally advertised individuals, carrying on a propaganda for what is characterized as (these are quotes) "the good life," "peace of mind," "positive thinking," and "successful" or "confident living." What the author objects to most strenuously is not so much that propaganda should be issued for the optimism of "peace of mind" and "positive thinking," but that this psychological optimism should be held out in any form as an interpretation of or a substitute for the real Christian religion.

There are grounds for cautious optimism that we may now be near the end of the search for the ultimate laws of nature.

I am not a pessimist; to perceive evil where it exists is, in my opinion, a form of optimism.

You can do anything you think you can. This knowledge is literally the gift of the gods, for through it you can solve every human problem. It should make of you an incurable optimist. It is the open door.